Somewhere in the last few weeks or so, Kwabi has become quite sensitive. If someone tells him not to do something in a normal tone, at times he becomes very upset. He puts both hands over his face and a slow wail begins.
This morning it happened at Miss Marilyn's, his daycare provider. Today was the first day back after Miss Marilyn's 2-week vacation. Kwabi was playing on the floor as she and I talked. Being a kid, and doing crazy things that kids do, he started biting on the rug. Miss Marilyn told him not to do it. And instantly, the hands went up and the cries began, at which point he ran to me.
I picked him up, and his arms flung around my neck so tightly. He was sobbing a very sad sob.
Miss Marilyn had a look of confusion at his behavior, since he'd never acted that way for her. Before, when she would tell him to stop doing something, he would come up to her, hug her, and say, "Sorry!" But now, he's ultra-touchy at times. (Other times, he will stop the behavior or just ignore me, LOL).
I wonder if other toddlers do this? If other toddlers go through these touchy phases where any slight "don't do that" yields a torrential flood of tears?
Kwasi, of course, doesn't like it, because he thinks Kwabi needs to "man-up." Even Miss Marilyn, ever-so-gently, said that he needs to toughen up, because if I jump to soothe him during those responses, then he may feed into it for the attention.
Could be that he's just being the "just-turned-2-year old" that he is....and like all things, this is just a phase that he will go through. He's growing, and changing, and taking in new things, and learning about human interaction.
In the meantime, I will still respond to his behavior (i.e. letting him know the reason we are telling him "no, please don't do that"), and will also console him if he seems particularly upset.
I don't think there's much (or any!) "toughening up" that a 2-year old can do. Kwabi JUST turned 2. But, I do recognize that how we react to his behavior, in general, could encourage or negate many aspects of his behavior and his reactions.
Or, he might just be becoming a sensitive child! Either way, we should continue to parent gently, wisely, firmly, and consistently. And, to support him regardless of whether it's just a stage or his little personality emerging!